Crown Point Vista House

The Crown Point Vista House was built in 1916 in conjunction with the Historic Columbia River Highway (so named after Interstate 84 became the predominant means of travel). The highway is still the only route to Crown Point, which sits 733 feet above the Columbia River. Columbia Vista House was built as a stop for travelers along the highway in need of a rest and a fantastic view of the Columbia River Gorge. The building is an octagonal shape with a copper dome, and it now houses a museum, gift shop and interpretive display of historic and geologic points of interest in the Gorge. The architect of the Vista House was Edgar Lazarus, whose famous sister, Emma Lazarus, wrote the poem on the Statue of Liberty.  In 1974 Vista House was added to the National Register of Historic Places